Trolley-harp.



PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

B. L. DRESSER.

TROLLEY HARP.

APPLIQATIDN HL2 SEPT. 14. 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 190B.

Application iiled September 14, 1905. Serial No. 278.462-

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN L. DREssER, a citizen of the United States, residing at UX- bridge, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley-Harps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention embodies an im roved form of harp for trolley-poles; and t e essential feature of the invention resides in the provision of a device of this class of very simple construction and one which is ada ted for quick attachment and detachment rom the ordinary form of trolley-pole most commonly in use at the present time.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trolleypole, showing the invention applied thereto.

ig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the pole and the harp. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one of the side plates which comprises a section of the harp looking toward the inner side of said plate.

Correspondingr and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

In the practical embodiment of the invention and referring to the drawings the numeral 1 designates the trolley-pole, the numeral 2 the harp, and the numeral 3 the trolley-wheel mounted in the harp. The harp comprises a shank 5 and a head composed of s aced sides 4 at the upper end of the shank.

he shank 5 is formed with a square socket 6, in which the square upper end portion 7 of the ole is adapted to be received, springcato es 8 being mounted on opposite sides of the shank 5 of the harp and adapted to engage in recesses 9 in opposite sides of the portion 7 of the pole to attach the harp thereto. The catches 8 are seated in longitudinal depressions 10 in opposite sides of the shank 5 and are secured to the shank at their upper ends by means of a screw or similar fastening 11 each catch having its uppermost portion enlarged. A handle 12 is carried by each catch projecting from its outer side, so as to be readily gras ed in order to disengage the catches from tiie pole and permit quick removal of the harp therefrom. The upper ends ofthe sides 4 of the head of the harp are formed with openings 13, forming bearings for an axle 14, on which the wheel 3 is mounted. The axle 14 is prevented from displacement by means of springs 15, which are attached to the outer faces of the sides 4 by means of fastenings 16, located between the ends thereof. The upper extremity of each spring 15 is formed with a square opening 17, ada ted to receive the squared end portions 18 of t 1e axle l4,the springs 15 being adapted to bear against the shoulders formed by the provision of the squared portions of the axle to prevent lateral displacement of the axle from the bearings 13, before described. The upper end of each spring 15 is received in arecess 19 on theouter face of the sides 4 of the head; but this end portion of each spring 15 may be readily pulled outwardly and turned aside by pivotal movement with reference to the fastenings 16, whereby the axle 14 can be readily displaced should this be necessary for any purpose. The lower end of each spring 15 projects over the upper end of the depression 10 adjacent thereto and forms a housing for the fastening-screw 11, by which the spring-catch 8 adjacent is held in position. The fastenings' 16, which attach the springs 15 to the head of the harp, also secure contact-s )rings 20 thereto, the springs 20, however, being arranged upon the inner face of each side 4 of the head instead of on the outer face, as are the springs 15. The upper end of each spring 20 1s provided with an opening through which the axle 14 passes, and the normal tendency of the springs 20 is such as to hold the upper end portions thereof in spring contact with opposite sides of the trolley-wheel 3, insuring a thorou h electrical connection of the pole and trdIley-wre.

In manufacturing the harps it is contemplated that the same be made in two sections consisting of plates, each plate constituting a half of the sh ank 5 and forming one side 4 of the head. The lates comprising the harp would be secured) together by means of suitable bolts 21, passin apertured lugs 22.

It will be readily noted that the construction of the harp as hereinbefore set forth is particularly advanta cous, in thatthe same can be quickly detac ed from the pole 1 and a new harp substituted therefor Wlthout the necessity of use of skilled labor. Should the g through horizontallyharp break forany`purpose,'the motorman or conductor of the car can readily replace the same and the car can resume its trip.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In combination, a trolley-pole, a trolley-harp comprising a shank and a head composed of spaced sides, said sides having suitable bearings therein, an axle mounted in the bearings of the sides of the head, a trolley- Wheel mounted on said axle, opposite end portions of the axle being formed With shoulders, axle-holding springs on the outer faces of the sides of the head and having end portions thereof bearing against the shoulders on the ends of the axle to revent lateral displacement of said axle, astening means for said springs admitting of turning the same to one side to permit of removal of the axle7 and contact-s rlngs arranged upon the inner faces of the si es of the head and secured to the said sides by the same fastenings as the axleholding springs, said contact-springs having lo enings therein through Which the axle a' Aoresaid passes and normally bearing against the opposite sides of the trolley-wheel.

2. A trolley-harp comprising a shank formed with a socket to receive the upper end of a trolley-pole, opposite sides of the shank being formed With longitudinal depressions, spring-catches seated in the depressions of the shank and adapted to move into the socket to engage the trolley-pole and secure the harp thereto, a head at the upper end of the shank of the harp and com osed of spaced sides having openings at t e upper extremities thereof, an axle mounted in the openings aforesaid and ,having its ends squared, a trolley-Wheel mounted on the axle, springs upon the out r faces of the sides of the head and provided,y with square o enings receiving the squared end portions o the axle7 fastenings securing said springs to the sides of the head and permitting pivotal movement of the springs, and contact-springs arranged on the inner faces of the sides of the head and attached thereto by means of the fastenings securing the axleengaging springs above described, the contact-springs being provided With openings through Which the axle passes and being in spring contact With the opposite sides of the trolley-Wheel.

In testimony whereof I aHix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN t. masser. [a a] Witnesses:

MICHAEL T. ALDRroH, HORACE E. ALDRICH. 

